2 Best Hotels in Bastia, Corsica

More a walled château than a medieval fortress, Hôtel Castel Brando sits across from the harbor town of Erbalunga. The central building, surrounded by three outlying ones, is awash with charming old-world knickknacks: Grecian urns, wicker lamps, teapots, and candlesticks. Sumptuous furnishings include Queen Anne chairs and crimson boudoir sofas. Some rooms, cozy with vaulted ceilings and glazed tiled floors, stand along a gravel pathway lined by rosebushes, with balconies overlooking a small swimming pool screened by an orange grove. A larger outdoor swimming with a hot tub sits close to the main building.

At the end of a quiet promenade near the water's edge, this former post office turned hotel lies close to Place St-Nicolas and the Citadelle. The rooms are basic, with wood floors and windows you can throw open to catch the breeze. Ask for a room with a sea view. There are also a few much-appreciated extras, such as free Wi-Fi access.